Today the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este 2023 started and BMW was in charge of the opening with an extraordinary model, the Concept Touring Coupé.
This model, based on the Z4, re-imagines its silhouette in shooting brake format and it’s hard not to think of the famous “clown shoe” M coupe based on the Z3, which is today a cult sports car and worth a fortune .
The 1990s BMW Z3 M Coupé was affectionately nicknamed the Clown Shoe
Of course, the profile of this car is luxury and elegance more than sportsmanship.
Culto Al Shooting Brake
“The BMW Concept Touring Coupé celebrates the original driving pleasure,” says Domagoj Duček, BMW Design Director. “A highly emotional vehicle like this shows that a passion for all things cool has been essential through the ages and will continue to be in the future.”
The handcrafted, one-of-a-kind BMW Concept Touring Coupé combines a traditional, historic concept with the technology of a pure, modern sports car. It is striking that BMW did not want to mention the M Coupé we all know, but rather two other models, namely the BMW 328 Touring Coupé that won the Mille Miglia endurance race in 1940 and the “touring” variant of the BMW 02 from the 1970s. series since its inception. The style of lettering on the rear and interior of this unusual vehicle is inspired by the model lettering of this historic predecessor.
BMW Concept Touring Coupe: exterior design
The design highlight of the BMW Concept Touring Coupé is the sculpted rear end. The shape of the roofline, which blends seamlessly with the rear side panels, emphasizes the car’s athletic shoulders, while the flat rear glass and clearly defined body surfaces enhance the vehicle’s solidity.
Viewed from the side, the typical BMW interpretation of the shooting brake ratio is clearly recognisable. The long hood, aerodynamic roof contour and powerful rear section create a distinctive two-volume design, while the elongated side window graphics with Hofmeister curves and flared rear wheel arches underline its sporty elegance.
The Sparkling Lario exterior paint was created specifically for the BMW Concept Touring Coupé. Embedded with blue glass scales, its grey-brown tones achieve a unique effect of depth. The specially designed BMW grille with accents and longitudinal bars in silver plated bronze completes the effect. The 20-inch front and 21-inch rear light-alloy wheels provide a logical continuation of these color accents in the 20-arm radial design. Intricate workmanship and discreet gold-coloured surfaces underline the elegant sporty character of the vehicle.
BMW Concept Touring Coupe: Interior Design
The interior of the BMW Concept Touring Coupé has a singular change with respect to the Z4, which is the two-tone upholstery from the Italian Poltrona Frau leather workshop.
Precise perforations for the seat skirts and skid bar as well as braided leather straps underline the artisanal character of the interior, which combines traditional craftsmanship at the highest level with modern design principles.
High-quality workmanship and attention to detail are also reflected in the specially designed accessories for the BMW Concept Touring Coupé by Modena’s legendary leather workshop Schedoni. The made-to-measure set consists of two large bags and a small bag for the weekend, as well as a garment bag, completely customized and combined with the vehicle.
